Silva takes narrow victory, while Moreira produces solo win in Torres Vedras

The last of the three cross country events, the results from which will determine the Portuguese team for the European Cross Country championship on 14 December, took place yesterday (30 Nov) in Torres Vedras, at one of the most traditional cross country events in Portugal.

The meeting is now far from its international glory days when great runners, such as Salah Hissou and Carlos Lopes made history, but this year's Torres Vedras Cross Country event still proved to be an interesting national level meeting.

Men

The race proved to be very competitive, with six runners deciding the top places via a strong sprint battle during the final lap. The young António Silva, 21, proved to be the strongest and took first place, just one second ahead of Pedro Ribeiro and two seconds in advance of the third placed, Rui Teixeira.

Ribeiro and Teixeira, should have gained places to the European Cross Country Championship team, while Silva will be the leader of the U23 squad in Brussels.

Women

In what form was Fernanda Ribeiro, 39, the former World and Olympic 10,000m champion, in terms of fighting for a team place for Brussels? The answer was that one of Portugal’s greatest ever athletes was not in such good condition, and instead winning the race was last year's revelation Sara Moreira.

Moreira won in Torres Vedras, with a strong solo run that brought her home with an advantage of 16 seconds on the second placed runner, Marisa Barros. Fernanda Ribeiro finish in the third place, 24 seconds after Moreira.

Moreira, and Ana Dias, the winner last week in the Amora Cross Country, should be the last two athletes selected for the national team.

António Manuel Fernandes for the IAAF

Results:

Men
1. António Silva POR 31:51
2. Pedro Ribeiro POR 31:52
3. Rui Teixeira POR 31:53
4. Youssef el Kalai MAR 31:57
5. Sérgio Silva POR 31:58
6. Ricardo Ribas POR 32:00
7. Mário Teixeira POR 32:09
8.  Hermano Ferreira POR 32:24

Women
1. Sara Moreira POR 19:09
2. Marisa Barros POR 19:25
3. Fernanda Ribeiro POR 19:33
4. Cláudia Pereira POR 19:44
5. Joana Costa POR 19:45
6. Sandra Teixeira POR 19:53
7. Sara Pinho POR 19:56
8. Ana Ferreira POR 20:13